safari can't establish a secure connection

I agree with akmason. I also believe that a Mac should be protected. I followed his instructions in Avast and now, even with Web Shields enabled, I am able to log into the site that I was blocked from before. Thanks for the detailed instructions, they were easy to follow.

Just took off the advast web shield and now have access to all websites. So odd. I did do an update/install right before it happened .... wonder if that had anything to do with it? Also had been using advast with no problems prior to this issue.

Your Mac already is protected by the in-house Gatekeeper. You don't need third-party AV programs. You just don't. You may think you do, but either you're coming from a PC where they actually are necessary and you're just accustomed to having one on your system or you've been following unhelpful advice from other people. They suck up valuable resources scanning your computer for Windows viruses — you're not running Windows, you're running Mac OS X. Exactly what viruses do you think they're looking for?

yyes, this was spot on and everything is working fine now

I have exactly this same problem (specifically "Safari can't establish a secure connection to the server "www.google.com"). Alarmingly, I have the same problem on another Mac on the same network at the same time, so I changed the wi-fi network (I have two) but to no avail – still doesn't work. Tried pretty much everything: rebooting the router, restarting computers and Safari, changing prefs. Still can't get on to Google or Google Maps.

Could the problem be with Google even though the website isitdownrightnow.com shows Google working OK?

I should add that I'm not running any anti-virus software.

Safari - Unsupported third-party add-ons may cause Safari to unexpectedly quit or have performance issues

Safari doesn't load a page or webpage items are missing

Safari/other browsers – Website not loading

Thanks Eric, but none of the suggestions in the links worked for me.

I should also add that exactly the same thing is happening in Firefox, with the message "Secure connection failed".

Big McAl wrote:

Thanks Eric, but none of the suggestions in the links worked for me.

I should also add that exactly the same thing is happening in Firefox, with the message "Secure connection failed".

If you're using a third party Anti-Virus program, turn off any sort of Web Shielding in the settings and you should be good to go. If you'd rather not keep the setting off then you can set up a list in your AV programs preferences to disregard certain websites (i.e. the sites that give the 'secure connection' message) in the future so you can still browse and be protected on sites you don't know.

I ended up just removing the AV portion of Avast all together and putting my computer in the hands of The Gatekeeper. I now only use Avast's VPN Network when I need it

I experienced exactly the same problem as Big McAI overnight... two macs can't access google through Safari or Firefox through my home wifi. Can get to most other things on the net fine (except things like iTunes store, which now has the same problem). My phone can't get to google via wifi either but can when using cellphone towers.

So, the problem would seem to be with my modem / router. I'm not sure why though, I've changed nothing at all between going to bed and waking up with nothing working, and don't have any third-party add-ons / anti-virus programs or the like. I've restarted everything, including the modem and router - no change.

Can't find any help on the web - any assistance would be appreciated.

Final update: my problem's solved.

In this particular case it turned out to be an issue with my (Australian) ISP relating to google access from Apple devices http://www.iinet.net.au/status/fault.php?id=4352567. They gave me some alternate DNS addresses to use as a workaround, that solved my problem.

Thanks Chris, that's useful info and what I thought could pretty much be the problem. I'm not running any anti-virus software and, in any case, all the workarounds described here relate to a single computer (thanks, anyway, for the suggestions), whereas this problem affected ALL my desktop computers (not iPhones or iPads though, bizarrely). So, last night I shut everything down, rebooted the router (for the nth time) and, presto, this morning all was fine. Whether that meant my ISP had recognised the problem and fixed it, I'll never know because I've no need now to call them.

FWIW though, a while ago I had a similar – though not the same – problem, and the solution was to add Google's own DNS, which is 8.8.8.8.

I use Sophos and This solved the problem immediately - thank you so much!

This has been annoying me for weeks!

My business partner was experiencing the same issue from home on a MacBook Pro and iMac on a wireless network - she could not access any google sites or services (google.com, gMail, Google Drive, youtube, etc.). Both machines were running 10.9.5 and upgrading to 10.10 solved the problem. Here is a list of things we tried first which did NOT work:

- added dns 8.8.8.8

- software/security updates (without updating from 10.9 to 10.10)

- turn off extensions in safari

- delete google cookies in safari

- install chrome and firefox; problem was consistent across all browsers

- repair permissions

- boot as a new, different user

- boot into safe mode

- remove startup items

- reset router

- update router firmware

If this is happening on more than one computer, it indicates that the problem lies with either your router or ISP, thus rendering any changes you make to a single computer ineffective. When you added the 8.8.8.8 DNS, did you add it to your router settings or to the network settings on your computer? (should be your router). I can't guarantee that it will work, but it has done for me in the past. Otherwise, I suggest you try calling your ISP and asking them for some additional DNS addresses.

I'm in the same boat.

I've tried deleting cache and cookies, but it did't work for me.

After surfing some websites, I found some tips that worked for me.

Go to System Preferences,choose network

Click "advanced", go to the "Hardware" tab, and click on "configure", choose "manually"

Click on mtu, change it to "custom" and set the mtu number to 1453 (I dont why but the number is something like a networking secret from ancient times)

regards,

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